Genetic Variation for Heat Tolerance During the Reproductive Phase in Brassica rapa

We investigated heat tolerance at the reproductive stage in six spring‐type B. rapa accessions and one B. juncea accession as a control. Plants were subjected to two temperature treatments for seven days in controlled environmental rooms, beginning one day before the first open flower on the main stem inflorescence. The high‐temperature treatment ranged from 25 °C to 35 °C during 16 h light and 25 °C during 8 h dark. The control temperature treatment was set at 23 °C during 16 h light and 15 °C during 8 h dark. Soil moisture was maintained at close to field capacity to avoid drought stress. Main stem buds that emerged during the treatment period were tagged, and pod and seed production was recorded at each reproductive node. Leaf temperature depression and leaf conductance increased in the high‐temperature treatment which indicated that plants were not drought stressed. A leafy vegetable type of B. rapa from Indonesia was the most tolerant to high temperature, as defined by its ability to set seed equally well in the control and high‐temperature treatments, followed by an oilseed type from Pakistan. Pollen viability remained above 87 % in all accessions and treatments. We conclude that bud number and length, and pod number produced under high temperatures, might provide a useful preliminary screen for high‐temperature tolerance and that B. rapa may be a valuable source of heat tolerance in canola (B. napus).     

Electron Transport Through Photosystem II Is Not Limited By A Wide Range of Water Deficit Conditions In Field‐Grown Gossypium hirsutum

Despite exhaustive literature describing drought stress effects on photosynthesis in Gossypium hirsutum, the sensitivity of photosynthetic electron flow to water deficit is heavily debated. To address this, G. hirsutum plants were grown at a field site near Camilla, GA under contrasting irrigation regimes, and pre‐dawn water potential (Ψ_PD), stomatal conductance (g_s), net photosynthesis (P_N), actual quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ_PSII) and electron transport rate (ETR) were measured at multiple times during the 2012 growing season. Ψ_PD values ranged from ?0.3 to ?1.1 MPa. Stomatal conductance exhibited a strong (r² = 0.697), sigmoidal response to Ψ_PD, where g_s was ≤0.1 mol m^?2 s^?1 at Ψ_PD values ≤ ?0.86 MPa. Neither Φ_PSII (r² = 0.015) nor ETR (r² = 0.010) was affected by Ψ_PD, despite exceptionally low Ψ_PD values (?1.1 MPa) causing a 71.7 % decline in P_N relative to values predicted for well‐watered G. hirsutum leaves at Ψ_PD = ?0.3 MPa. Further, P_N was strongly influenced by g_s, whereas ETR and Φ_PSII were not. We conclude that photosynthetic electron flow through photosystem II is insensitive to water deficit in field‐grown G. hirsutum.     

Gas exchange responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. africana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. robusta</Emphasis> to varying soil moisture content in semi-arid (Thika) Kenya

A dramatic decline in forest cover in eastern Africa along with a growing population means that timber and poles for building and fuelwood are in short supply. To overcome this shortage, the region is increasingly turning to eucalyptus. But eucalyptus raises environmental concerns of its own. Fears that it will deplete water supply, affect wildlife and reduce associated crop yields have caused many countries in the region to discourage farmers from planting this exotic. This paper is part of a series of investigations on the growth and water use efficiency of faster growing eucalyptus hybrids, which was introduced from South Africa to Kenya. The hypothesis is that the new hybrids are more efficient in using water and more suitable for the semi-arid tropics than existing eucalyptus and two popular agroforestry species. Gas exchange characteristics of juvenile Eucalyptus grandis (W. Hill ex Maiden), two eucalyptus hybrids (E. grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.), Grevillea robusta (A. Cunn) and Cordia africana (Lam) was studied under field and pot conditions using an infrared gas analyzer was used to measure photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g _s) and transpiration rate (E) at CO₂ concentrations of 360 μmol mol⁻¹ and ambient humidity and temperature. A, E and g _s varied between species, being highest in eucalyptus hybrid GC 15 (24.6 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) compared to eucalyptus hybrid GC 584 (21.0 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), E. grandis (19.2 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), C. africana (17.7 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and G. robusta (11.1 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). C. africana exhibited high E values (7.0 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) at optimal soil moisture contents than G. robusta (3.9 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and eucalyptus (5.3 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) in field experiment and G. robusta (3.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and eucalyptus (4.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) in pot-grown trees. At very low soil moisture content, extremely small g _s values were recorded in GC 15 and E. grandis (8 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and G. robusta (14 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) compared to GC 584 (46.9 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and C. africana (90.0 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) indicating strong stomatal control by the species. Instantaneous water use efficiency ranged between 3 and 5 μmol mmol⁻¹ and generally decreased with decline in soil moisture in pot-grown trees but increased with declining soil moisture in field-grown trees.     

Photosynthetic acclimation of shade-grown red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings to a high light environment

Photosynthetic light acclimation in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings was examined in a greenhouse study to better understand the physiological response of this species to increased light intensity following release from competition. Seedlings grown in a high (HL), medium (ML) or low (LL) light environment for 12 weeks were transferred to high light. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of ML and LL seedlings were measured prior to and following transfer and compared with the HL control treatment. Photosynthetic characteristics were related to initial light treatment and time after transfer. Acclimation of gas exchange features to high light in shade formed ML and LL foliage was relatively rapid, with similar values among light treatments within 57 days of transfer. Acclimation of net photosynthetic rate was similar in ML and LL seedlings, and was associated primarily with increased mesophyll conductance to CO₂. The ratio of variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (F_v/F_m) decreased initially after transfer, especially in LL seedlings, but recovered to normal values after 57 days. Red pine seedlings appear to be well adapted for photosynthetic acclimation to high light intensity, consistent with that reported for other early successional tree species.     

Predictive models of drought tolerance indices based on physiological,morphological and biochemical markers for the selection of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties

The use of tolerant crop varieties is a strategy that mitigates the water deficit effect in a sustainable way.The generation of these varieties is more efficient when variables associated with this tolerance have been identified,since they can facilitate the breeding processes.This study aimed to establish the relationships between water deficit tolerance of four cotton varieties(Nevada-123,Oasis-129,Guatapuri,and Festivalle) and morphological variables(monopodial branches,boll weight,root/shoot...     

烯效唑对高羊茅草坪生长及光合作用的影响

[目的]探索烯效唑延缓草坪生长的效果。[方法]以清水处理为对照(CK),高羊茅(美洲虎3号)留茬7 cm修剪后,用50(A)、100(B)mg/L烯效唑、CK0(Primo MAXX原药的200倍稀释液)处理,研究不同处理对高羊茅生长发育的影响。[结果]烯效唑(A、B)和CK0处理在第20天时的株高分别为对照的61.05%、89.46%、71.82%。在第40天时倒2叶的长度分别为对照的50.91%、57.94%、57.37%,A处理对高羊茅的矮化作用最明显。处理后高羊茅倒第2叶和倒第3叶间距离显著缩短,其中A、B和CK0处理分别为对照的5.78%、6.38%和6.08%。在第20天时A、B和CK0处理的高羊茅叶绿素含量分别为对照的124.34%、123.11%、123.52%。A处理的叶片净光合速率受到显著抑制,仅为对照的71.20%。[结论]100 mg/L的烯效唑处理对高羊茅草坪生长的作用效果最好。     

根系吸水模型模拟覆膜旱作水稻气孔导度

为构建覆膜旱作水稻根系吸水模型,进一步改进气孔导度模型,该文在湖北十堰开展包含3个水分处理(淹水、覆膜湿润和覆膜旱作栽培)的田间试验,分析覆膜旱作水稻蒸腾(根系吸水)与根长之间的关系,在此基础上建立覆膜旱作水稻根系吸水模型,并将其代替彭曼(Penman-Monteith,PM)方程来估算蒸腾强度,进而与脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)参与调控的气孔导度模型耦合,模拟覆膜旱作条件下水稻气孔导度的日变化过程。结果表明,水稻蒸腾与根长呈线性正比关系(R~2=0.96,P0.05),据此建立的根系吸水模型可以较好地模拟覆膜旱作水稻的蒸腾(根系吸水)规律,使蒸腾强度模拟值和实测值间的相对误差基本控制在15%以内;经改进后的Tardieu-Davies气孔导度模型(TD模型)可有效描述不同土层根系吸水流中的ABA浓度及不同根系层ABA的合成对木质部蒸腾流中总ABA含量的贡献,可较好地模拟气孔导度的日变化过程。改进TD模型大大提高了模拟精度,使相对误差不超过7.0%。该研究可为覆膜旱作水稻生理节水机理和水分利用效率评估提供一定的理论依据。     

水分胁迫对紫花苜蓿叶水势、蒸腾速率和气孔导度的影响

采用盆栽水分试验,研究了不同土壤水分条件下紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)叶水势、蒸腾速率和气孔导度的变化规律及相互关系,以期揭示其对土壤水分胁迫的气孔响应机制。结果表明:苜蓿叶水势、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)均随水分胁迫加剧而降低,三者日变化均呈双峰曲线特征,日平均值表现为充分供水>轻度胁迫>中度胁迫>重度胁迫。最低叶水势随土壤水分降低而降低;在中度和重度胁迫下,叶水势和蒸腾速率日变化峰值出现的时间提前,当叶水势为-4.68 MPa或T_r为3.27 g·m^-2·h^-1时,气孔开始关闭;在充分供水和轻度胁迫下,T_r越高,叶水势越低,且G_s随着T_r增加而增加。叶水势的变化除受土壤水分影响外,还与叶片生长发育密切相关。     

土壤调盐改良对咸水灌溉冬小麦光合和蒸腾的影响

在天津滨海地区高水位、黏重土壤利用田间小区试验研究土壤调盐改良技术对咸水灌溉的冬小麦光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、叶绿素含量指数等生理指标的影响,试验结果表明,冬小麦播种前采用适当土壤调盐改良技术能够提高冬小麦抽穗期、灌浆期的光合速率、叶绿素含量指数,降低气孔导度、蒸腾速率.小麦冬前施用75 kg/100 m2改良剂(40％风化褐煤+40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏)有利于提高冬小麦灌浆期的光合速率,有降低抽穗期、灌浆期小麦的蒸腾速率的效果,冬前施用45 kg/100 m2改良剂(20％风化褐煤+40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏+20％沸石粉)对提高冬小麦抽穗期光合速率有利,同时也提高抽穗期小麦的蒸腾速率;土壤调盐改良剂对咸水灌溉冬小麦的气孔导度有明显抑制作用,冬前施用30kg/100 m2改良剂(40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏+40％沸石粉)的冬小麦气孔导度与不采用改良措施相比,抽穗期降低52.28％,灌浆期降低39.51％;冬前施用45 kg/100 m2或75 kg/100 m2改良剂(40％风化褐煤+40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏)和30 kg/100 m2改良剂(40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏+40％沸石粉)均能够显著提高抽穗、灌浆期冬小麦的叶绿素含量指数;冬前施用45 kg/100m2改良剂(20％风化褐煤+40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏+20％沸石粉)和30 kg/100 m2改良剂(40％磷石膏+20％脱硫石膏+40％沸石粉),即使在较高土壤含盐量也能够使冬小麦光合速率保持在较高水平,使冬小麦蒸腾速率受到土壤含盐量影响不明显.     

果实裂果影响因子研究进展

裂果是一类生理性病害,果实开裂后既影响外观,又容易受到病菌的侵染出现浆烂果,果实商品价值严重降低并造成重大经济损失。笔者从果实的表型特征、遗传因素、生理特性、矿质元素、环境、植物生长调节剂、栽培措施等方面对裂果的影响因子进行了分析,并就今后研究的方向进行了讨论。